Stop mechanism for implement adjusting cylinders



Aug- 12, 1,952 l J. F. zlsKAL 2,606,532

STOP MECHANISM FOR IMFLEMENT ADJUSTING CYLINDERS Aug. 12, 1952 J. F. zlsKAl.

STOP MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENT ADJUSTING CYLINDERS 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1952 IN VEN TOR.

Aug- 12, 1952 J. F. zlsKAL. 2,606,532

STOP MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENT ADJUSTING CYLINDERS Filed Feb. 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. `Z

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A, Ar/l f (Il l dn l V Aug. 12, 1952 Flled Feb 19, 1952 Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED- STATES .PATENT OFFICE sfror MECHANISM Fon TMriLEii/iErri* ADJUsrrING cYLTNDERs Joseph Ziskal, Brookfield, Ill. ApplicationFebruary 19, 1952, Serial'NmZZS This invention relates tol agricultural implements and particularly to depth control `mechanism therefor. More specifically the invention concerns a hydraulic ram vunit adapted 'for use upon a trail-behind implement and having `incorporated therein adjustablefmeans `for limiting the Astroke Aof the piston. This application is a continuation-in-part of U. S; application Serial No. 760,623, filed July 12 1947, and of Serial No. 98,222 Viiled June `10,f-19i9,1both now abandoned.

ln-trail-behind agricultural implements wherein the operating depth is regulated andthe implement raised and lowered by a hydraulic ram unit or the like receiving uid `under pressure from `a power source deriving energy from the tractor bywhich the implement is drawn, considerable difficulty has been experienced in returning-the `implement --toa selected operating position after it has lbeen raised to transport as in turning at the end of afield or the like. lTherefore thepresent Yinvention has for its object the provision of asimple andeffective stop vmechanism limiting the stroke of the piston of the hydraulic ram.

Another object of the invention .is the provision ofra hydraulically operated stop associated witha ram unit for limiting the throw of the piston, and means for adjusting the :stop mechanism to vary the'throw of V'the piston and consequently the` operating position of the implement with whichlthe ram unitfis associated. n

A further object of vtheinvention is to provide in a Tam unit associated'.withanagricultural implement and receiving `fluid-under pressure from a'power source-carriedupon the tractor by which the implement is drawn; `stop mechanismassociated with the ram lunit and automatically operable tolimit'thethrow of the piston.

No attempt has been made herein to .claim broadly a stop .mechanismfor-limiting the stroke of the piston of afhydraulic ram.

Other objects and advantages oifthe invention will become clear yfrom the following detailed description when read fin `conjunction with the accompanying drawings, l wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in sidefelevation of an implement in the formi of a disk harrowconnected to a tractor in trail-behind relationship thereto and having mounted-thereupon `oneV form of hydraulic ram unit embodyingfthelfeatures of the present invention.

Figure 2 'is a view partly in section` showing a hydraulic cylinder and -piston embodying the stop mechanism ofthe present invention and showing the piston in retracted `position within the cylinder. Y s y io claims. (ci. 1214-38) Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion o1 the cylinder and piston structure shown in` Figure zfwith the piston rod extended;

Figure l is a view of one ofthe heads of the cylinder of Figure-2 Showingaportion of the stop mechanism.

Figure 5 is a viewin side elevation of another implement in the formlof afn'loldboard plow connected to a tractor in trail-behind relationship and having mounted thereupon an optional form of hydraulic rain' unit embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 6v is aview, partly diagrammatic, .illustrating the" control value ofthe hydraulic lift apparatus of Figure 5 and the connections between r-this valve and the hydraulic ram.

Figure 7 is va transverse sectional view vtaken on the line 'I-'I of Figure 9. i

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view taken on the lineS-S of Figure '7 and I Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the axis of the-Aram in Figure 6, as indicated by the line 9 9. l

Referring to Figures 1 lto 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the disk harrow shown in Figure 1 comprises a supporting frame I0 having frontand rear disk gang sections l-II and I2, respectively, carriedthereupon. The implement is connected Vby a hitch structure I3 to a tractor I4. The implement is vertically moved between operating and transport positions, and its depth ofoperation is gauged by supporting wheels I5 and I6 mounted upon crank axles I7 Vand i8 carried in one or more brackets I9 suspended from the 'frame vrI Iii'. The harrow shown in Figure 1 is vfor illustrative purposes to indicate the manner in whichy the hydraulic ram unit of thepresent invention is1 utilized to raise and .lowerand to adjustthe depth kof the earth-working tools. j

The crank aXlesI'Iland, Ijlhave secured thereto vertically extending'armsl and 2l which are connected lby a link 22 vserving for the pivotal vattachment of ,-thepiston 23. of a hydraulic ram unit generally v'indicated `at 24 andY including a cylinder'z ,-pivotally connected to a lug Zafxed to theframejIl vof the narrow. -It will be noted inFigu-regl `that extension of the piston E3v will rock-the arms 'jZELand 2| and the cranks Il and I8 in an antifclockwise vdirection-'to Araise the `wheels f-Iaand VIt with respect to the harrow frame and lowergthe diskgangs-ections II and V'l2 to operating position. ,Retraction of the piston .23 ,within the cylinder 2 ,5 swingsfthe Wh@e1s;l5 andml downwardly and raisesthe gangusections 3 to transport position or raises the tools to a shallower working depth.

Mechanism is incorporated with the ram unit 24 to limit the upward swinging of the wheels I5 and I6 with respect to the harrow frame so that when reversing direction at the end of a field or the like the implement may be returned to the same operating position after it has been raised to transport.

Ram unit 24 includes the cylinder 25 provided at its ends with heads 21 and 28, each of which is secured to the cylinder by one or more bolts 29. Slidably received in the cylinder 25 is a piston 30 having a rod 3I extending outwardly through an opening in the forward head 28 and provided at its end with an attaching clevis 32 by which the piston is pivotally connected to the link 22. Fluid under pressure is Supplied to the cylinder from a powersource, not shown, carried by the tractor I4 andderiving power therefrom. The ram unit of the present invention is a doubleacting type and uid is ysupplied thereto and withdrawn therefrom through hoses 33 and 34 leading from the cylinder to the tractor power source. The flow of fluid to and from the cylinder 25 is suitably controlled by the tractor operator by mechanism, not shown, preferably including means for cutting ofi the flow of fluid and forming a closed circuit in the cylinder.

Hose 34 is connected to the cylinder 25 by way of a threaded opening 35, and fluid under pressure is passed therethrough and enters the cylinder by a port 36 to move piston 30 to the left as viewed in Figure 2 and extend the piston rod 3|. As previously pointed out, this extension of the piston rod raises the wheels I5 and I6 with respect to the frame and lowers the gang sections II and I2 into the ground. AConnection of hose 33 to the cylinder is made at a threaded opening 31 formed in an enlargement 38 on the cylinder wall. Enlargement 38 extends the length of the cylinder and is provided with a bore 39 communicating with the opening 31 and opening into the end of the cylinder adjacent the head 28 through a port 4U. In order to move the piston 30 to the right in Figure 2 and retract the piston rod 3|, fluid is passed under pressure through hose 33 and bore 39 to theport 40. Fluid directed through one of the hoses 33 or 34 under pressure from the tractor power source is returned through the other hose to the oil reservoir carried by the tractor.

The enlargement 38 of the cylinder 25 is provided at the end adjacent cylinder head 28 and port 40 with a valve mechanism designated by the numeral 4I and including a valve seat 42 carried in an enlargement 43 of the bore 39 and a valve stern 44 slidable therein. Valve stem 44 extends through an opening 45 in the cylinder head 28 and is provided with an enlargement 46 engaged by a spring 41 which abuts a shoulder 48 constituting an enlargement of the bore 39.

In the position of the valve stem -44 as shown in Figure 2, the valve is open to the passage of fluid in either direction through the port 40 into or out of the opening 31. The valve is held in this open position by the spring 41. Upon movement of the valve stem 44 to the right in Figure 2 against the action of the spring 41 as indicated in Figure 3, the flow of fluid to or from the port 49 is cut olf. Movement of the valve 4I to closed position is accomplished by mechanism including a member in the form of a bell-crank 49 having a yoke portion 50 mounted upon a pivot pin 5I carried by the cylinder head 28. Yoke portion 50 4 of the bell-crank 49 constitutes an arm thereof engageable with the projecting end of the valve stem 44.

In the position of the piston rod 3I shown in Figure 2, the disk harrow with which the ram unit is associated is in its transport position. Upon lowering the implement to its operating position it is desirable that a predetermined fixed stop should be provided so that the implement will always return to the same operating position when raised out of the ground as in turning at the end of a field or the like. It is likewise desirable that this lowered position of the working tools be adjustable so that the working depth of the tools may be varied. Another arm 52 of the bell-crank 49 is provided with an enlarged end portion 53 having a slot 54 therein. Slot 54 is adapted to receive one link of a chain 55, one end of which is anchored to a bracket 56 aiiixed to the head 32 of the piston rod 3 I.

When it is desired to lower the implement to its operating position, fluid under pressure is passed through hose 34 and opening 35 in the cylinder head 21 through port 36 to force the piston 30 to the left as viewed in Figure 2. As the piston rod 3I moves outwardly the slack is taken up in chain 55 and the bell-crank 49 is rocked in a clockwise direction as'indicated in Figure 3 until arm 5D thereof engages the projecting portion of the valve stem 44. Valve stem 44 is moved to the right until the head 46 engages a shoulder 51 in the enlarged opening 43 of the bore 39. The flow of fluid outwardly through the -port 40 is thus cut oif and the movement of the piston 30 is stopped so that the tool gang sections II and I2 cannot go beyond the selected depth of operation thereof as determined by the operative length of the chain 55. Suitable relief valve mechanism is provided, -of course,v preferably at the tractor pressure source. The adjustment of the operating depth of the tool is accomplished simply by removing the chain link from the slot 54 in the arm 52 of the rockable member or bell-crank 49 and inserting another link of the chain therein. It may be understood that as the piston 39 approaches the position shown in Figure 3 and the rockable member 49 is urging the movable valve stem 44 into its closed position. the pressure of the` oil entering port 40 and reacting against the head 46 becomes suiicient to snap the valve stem 44 into its closed position against the shoulder 51 of the valve opening and to stop the movement of the piston 30. This sudden closing of the valve 4I causes the projecting end of the valve stem 40 to move slightly away from the arm 5I) of the bell-crank 49. Thus it may be understood that in the position of the partsv shown in Figure 3 the end of the valve stem 44 is slightly spaced from the arm 5U of the bell-crank due to the fact that theV piston rod 3I has been stopped prior to the chain 55 becoming `completely taut. Therefore when the piston .30 is to be retracted and the implements raised to transport position the fluid circuit is again opened and fluid under pressure directed through hosex33, opening 31 and bore 39 to the port 40. The release of fluid through port 36, and the entrance thereof into the bore 39 causes the valve stem 40 to move outwardly until it engages the arm 50 of the bell-crank, and the flow of fluid into the cylinder and against the piston 30 causes the latter to retract and to lift the implements into their inoperative position. Av spring may, if desired, be substituted for one of the links of chain 55. This isdesirable to allow a certain amount of overtravel of the piston where the, tractoroperator has failed to,y free the System Otau.: Y

Referring new te'lieures 5 to 9 the modified hydraulic lift apparatus shown in thesedrawines implement frame IIfI by a pin ||5 whereas the piston rod IIE of the ram is pivotally connected by a pin I l1 with, a depth gauge assembly I8 for raising the implement tool H19.- to the transport position when theram I isexpanded. iSuch'expansion of the ram occurs when fluid; is introduced thereinto.throughaconduit |2| and simultaneously exhausted therefrom through a conduit |22.A These conduits |2| and |22 are flexible hoses which lead from the casing of a tractormountedvalve |23. Valve |23 is manually controlled by a bell-crank |211 pivotally mounted at |25 and having a horizontal` arm |26 connected with the upper end of a valve stem |29 of the valve |23.

Referring now to Figure 6, the valve |23 receives iiuid from a constant delivery pump |3| through a, conduit |32. The pump is mounted upon and driven by the tractor power plant. Fluid is supplied to the pump from a reservoir |33 through aA conduit |34'. A pressure release valve |35 is connected between the conduits |32 and ld tol allow the pump to circulate therethroughshould apredeterminedly high pressure condition prevailin the conduit |32.

Valve |23 is shown in aneutral low-pressure bypass condition wherein a circumferential groove |35 of a plunger |31 is in registry with a circumferential valve casing groove with which the conduit |32 communicates. Fluid entering thegrooves |38 and |35 flows therefrom through radial passages |39 into an axial exhaust channel |fi| in the plunger |31 from which it discharges directly into the reservoir |33. Springs |122 andl |43. bias the valvev plunger |31 toward this neutral position.

If the valve plunger |31l is raised) for causing a lower circumferential groove |24 thereof to simultaneously register with valve-casing groovesl IiA and |48,4 fluid from the pump will flow throughthe groove IMV into the groove |46 and thence to the ram through the hose |2|. Simultaneously huid discharged from the ram will now through the hose |22 into the circumferential casing groove |41 with which the plunger groove |36 then registers. Conse-` quently the fluid returned to the valve through the hose |22 will be delivered'through the valve passage |iI into the reservoir.

MovementV of theV valve plunger |31 downwardly from the neutral position for bringing the circumferential plunger groove |43 into bridging relation` with the casing grooves |38 and |41 will cause fluid delivered from the pump to be delivered to the ram through the hose |22 and to be discharged from the ram through the hose |2|. This fluid returned through hose |2| is delivered into the casing channel |56 and thence into the plunger channel |36 from which the fluid flows radially inwardly through the passages |39 and thence through the plunger passage IM into the reservoir. l

Thus, while the valve plunger |31 is in the neutral position shown, the pump can deliver fluid through the valve into the reservoir at low pressure and while the valve plunger occupiesan upward Setting. fluid is. delivered to the'ram. through the hose |21 and returned to the reservoir through the hose |22 and when the valve plunger is moved to a downward' setting iiuid is delivered to the ramA through the hose |272 and discharged therefrom through the hose |2|.

4Referring now to Figures 6, '7, and 9, the ram cylinder IIZ'iA can be seen to be formed of4 a tubular member'` |5'I having endV wall c astings |2l and |53- secured thereto byv four tie` bolts IML-|51. Endwall casting |513 hasV a hose-conne'cting structure |58 with which the hose |22 is communicatively connected. This structure |53 also communicates with a tube |59 and the right end' of this Atube extends' into the connecting-rod end wall |52- where communicationv is had wit-h the interior of the cylinder through an L-sh'aped passage |G||62 having a vertical portion IGI andan axial portion |62. The passage |6 ||t2 communicates with that portion of the ram cylinder between the ram piston It and the piston rod end |52 of the ram.

Hose |2| `is communicatively attached to hose attaching structure |64 on the left end of thecylinder. A pair of tubes |65 and |66 are serially included in passage means providing communication between the hose-connecting structure |64 and that portion of the ram cylinder between the piston I?, and the left end or wall |53 of said cylinder. The piston rodV end wall |52- containsA a diagonal passage |61 communicating betweenY the right end ofV the tube |65 and the left end of a passage portion (recess) |68, Figure 9 drilled axiallyV into the cylinder end wall |52. This passage portion (recess) |68 comprises a section of a fluid conducting passage |65-|6'|-|63--|66-|141|15. seat |59. circumscribesv a section of the passage portion |533 and this valve seat complements a valve element |1Iv in forming a stop valve. Said valve element I1 I: is in the form` of a head upon a valve stem |12 which serves as a valve operating element for the valve |69-|1I. Valve stem |12' is reciprocally mounted: in a bearing sleeve |13 mounted inthefend wall |52. An L-shaped passage section |1'4.|.15, communicates between the tube |66 and a part of the passage portion ISS to the right of.` the valve seat; |69 as viewed in Figure 9.

A valve-closing elementV |16. for the valve MEQ-HI is mounted upon the piston rod IIE. This valve-closing elementcomprises an axially split hub |11 and. a circular flange. |18 of sufficiently great radius for abutting, with the valve-operating element. |12. Although the element |16 is slid'able for manual adjustment lengthwise of the piston rod, saidv element engages the piston rod with sufficient force to offer substantialV resistance to-said adjustment wherefor the frictional engagementI between said element and the piston rod will cause the element to remain set while exerting an endwise force upon the element |12 for closing the valve IQ-l'I-I. The desired frictional gripping of the split hub |11 on to the piston rod isobtained by a gripping band |19 circumscribing said hub.

Assuming first thev parts to be in the positions illustrated in Figure 6', liquid from thepump |3| will flow through the conduit |32 into the annular groove |36 of the valveV plunger |21, thence through radial passages |39 and theexhaust passage |l|i| into the reservoir |33. Thepump'withdraws liquid from the reservoir through the conduit |34, causing constant circulation of the A valve- 7 fluid at low pressure. Ifthe operator desires to raise the implement tool to transport position, he will manipulate the lever |24 for raising the valve plunger 31 to place the circumferential groove" |44 Aof the plunger in communicative relation between the valve casing annular passages |38 and |46. This upward movement of the plunger will also place the plunger annular groove |36 in registry with the casing annular groove |41. Upon this setting of the valve, fluid from the pump will iiow through the conduit |32 into the annular groove |38, thence into the groove |44, groove |46, hose |2 ram cylinder tube |65,` diagonal passage |61 in the piston rod end wall of the ram cylinder, fluid passage section |68, past the valve seat |69 (incident to unseating the valve element |1| in a downstream direction), L-shaped passage |14-|15, tube |66 and passage |8| into that portion of the cylinder between the piston |63 and the non-piston rod end wall |53. Fluid thus entering the ram cylinder will force the piston to the right and will be operable through the gauge assembly ||8 for raising the tool H9. Meanwhile, fluid will be exhausted from that part of the ram cylinder between the piston and the piston rod end wall |52 thereof. This exhaust of fluid takes place through the L-shaped passage |62-|6|, tube |59, hose |22, annular groove |36 of the valve plunger, the radial passages |39 in the plunger and the eX- haust passage |4| into the reservoir. When the tool has been elevated the desired distance the operator will release the hand control lever |24 and allow the springs 42| 43 to re-establish the neutral setting of the valve.

When it is later desired to cause advancement of the tool from the transport position to a position of desired working elevation or depth below the surface of the soil, the operator will manipulate the control lever |24 to lower the valve plunger |31 from the neutral to place the circumferential groove |48 in communicative relation between the casing grooves |38 and |41. This allows the pump to discharge into the hose |22 and places the plunger groove |36 in registry with the casing groove |46 so the hose |2| is connected with the valve exhaust passage |4|. Fluid under pressure from the pump entering the hose |22 flows through the ram tube |59 and thence through the L-shaped passage |6|-|62, Figures '7 and 9, into the piston rod end of the ram cylinder. This causes telescopic contraction of the ram attendant to the tool ||9 being lowered. concurrently, fluid will be exhausted from the non-piston rod end of the ram through the passage |8|, tube |66, L-shaped passage |15- |14, through the valve |69|1| in the passage portion |68, passage |61 (Figure '7), tube |65, hose |2| and the exhaust passage I4| of the control valve into the reservoir |33. As the ram piston moves to the left the valve-closing element |16 constrained for movement therewith will eventually contact and press the valve-operating element |12 inwardly to place the valve head element |1| in throttling relation with respect to the fluid being exhausted through the passage portion |68. This creates a pressure differential in the fluid discharged through the passage portion |68, the pressure of fluid becoming greater on the upstream side of the valve seat |69 than in the downstream side thereof, wherefor a greated pressure occurs on the right end of the head |1| than on the left end thereof. Therefore, after the valve-closing element 16 has pressed the valve-operating element |12 into said throttling valve-closing-initiating position, the valve element |1| will be closed by the action of fluid pressure. As the valve closes, the stem or valve-operating element |12 will depart to the left from the valve-closing element |16 leaving a space between these two elements |12 and |16 when the valve |69|1| becomes closed and stops further telescopic contraction of the ram. This stopping of the ram operation also stops advancement of the tool ||9 wherefor the tool can be predeterminedly positioned correlatively with selective settings of the valve-closing element |16 lengthwise of the piston rod ||6.

It is ascertainable from the drawings that further movement of the ram piston |63 after the tool ||9 is advanced to the desired working position is precluded by the trapping of fluid under compression between the piston |63 and the non-piston rod end wall |53 of the ram cylinder. Inasmuch as the liquid in the hydraulic circuit is essentially non-compressible at the pressures attained in a hydraulic system of this character, the tool will not descend beyond the desired position. This would not be the case, however, if the valve |69|1| were placed in a passage through which fluid is introduced into the ram instead of in the passage through which fluid is exhausted therefrom during descent or advance of the tool to the desired working position. Under those circumstances gravitational force of the tool applied to the piston would incur cavitation in that portion of the hydraulic portion between the valve and the piston, allowing variable overtravel of the tool, depending upon the weight thereof or the suction of the soil upon a soilworking tool.

Inasmuch as the valve-operating element |12 departs from the valve-closing element |16 pursuant to closing of the valve attendant to the tool reaching the advanced lowered working position, subsequent opening of the valve and movement of the element |12 to the right toward the element 16, pursuant to the initial lifting of the tool to transport position will not first involve abutting of the element |12 against the element |16 which will change the setting of the latter upon the piston rod. As fluid is introduced into the left end of the ram cylinder for moving the piston |63 to the right to lift the tool from the working position, the fluid thereby exhausted from the right end of the ram cylinder through the passage portion |68 will, of course, unseat the valve element |1|, but this occurs while the piston and piston rod together with the element |16 are moving to the right so that by the time the valve |69|1| is fully open, the valve-closing element |16 will be out of the position where it could be abutted by the valve stem |12.

Attaching the hoses |2| and |22 to the same end of the ram cylinder facilitates the ease with which the ram may be manipulated for attaching and detaching between an implement frame and a part thereon to be controlled by the ram. This type of hose connection also makes it less difficult to cause the hoses to assume a contiguous relation throughout their length since the hoses are of the same length and their ends are juxtaposed both at the tractor and at the ram.

Use of the two tubes |65 and |66 in serial relation in forming the passage between the hoseconnecting structure |64 and the interior portion of the ram cylinder between the non-piston rod end and the piston makes it possible to connect both hoses to the non-piston rod end wall of the cylinder and to also provide the passage portion |68 extending axially of the ram cylinder ata position where the'valve IBB-lll disposed in such passage portionv is accessible 'for operation by a valve-closing elementl'lt mounted' upon the piston rod. Y v

It is believed that the `operation of' the devices of the present invention willbe clearly understood from the foregoing idescription. However, it should `be Lfurther understood that modifications may be madein the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or thesource of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: f

l. A hydraulic' ram comprising a cylinder, a

piston slidable in the cylinder, a piston rod carf ried by thepiston and Aprojecting from the end of the cylinder, ports formedA in the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston for the admission ci fluid to and the discharge of iluid from the cylinder to move the piston, a conduit for leading the fluid from the cylinder, a valve providing communication between the discharge port and the conduit for interrupting the discharge of fluid from the cylinder including a plunger having an enlarged head movable past said discharge.. port in its passage between open and` closed positions with respect to said conduit, a member carried by the ram approachable toward and engageable with said plunger andv actuated in response to operation of the ram to move the plunger past said discharge port to its closed position, Athe pressure and direction oflflo-w of the lluid from the discharge port against the enlarged head oi the plunger being such as to urge the plunger to its closed position after a predetermined move-V ment thereof irrespective of the position of the member withv respect to the plunger.

2. A hydraulic ram comprising aV cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, afpiston rod carried by the piston and projecting from the end of the cylinder, ports formed in the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston for the admission of huid to and the discharge of fluid from the cylinder to move the piston, a conduit for leading the iluid from thecylinder, a valve providing communication between the discharge port and the conduit for interrupting the discharge of iluid from the cylinder including a plunger having an enlarged head movable past said discharge port in its passage between open and closed positions with respect to said conduit, a member carried by the, ram approachable toward `and engageable .with said plunger and actuated inresponse to operation of the ram to move the plunger past said discharge portto its closed position, the pressure and direction `of flow ofthe fluid from the discharge port against the enlarged head of the plunger being such, after a predetermined movement of the plunger, as to react against the plunger head and snap it into closed position ahead of the movement of the member.

3. A hydraulic ram vcomprising a cylinder, a piston slidable in the 4cylinder, a p-iston rod carried by the piston and projecting from the end of the cylinder, ports formed in the cylinder at opposite sides of the` piston' for the admission of fluid to and the discharge of fluid from the cylinder to move thepiston, a valve asociated with one said port for interrupting the iiow of fluid therethrough including a plunger, means for closing the valve in response to movement Aof the piston in the cylinder comprising a member approachable toward andengageable with the plunger in the iirst part of its stroke and actuated by the movement of the ram piston to move .10 the plunger toward its closed position, and means associated with the plunger and reacting against the iluid pressure in the cylinder in the last part of the plunger stroke to move the plunger ahead of the member'and independently thereof to close the valve. f

e. AA hydraulic ram comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, a piston rod carriedvby the piston and projecting from the end of the cylinder, ports formed in the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston for the admission of fluid to and the discharge of fluid from the cylinder to move the piston, a valve associated with one said port for interrupting the low of fluid therethrough including a plunger, means for closing thefvalve in response to movement of the pieton in the `cylinder comprising a member approachable toward and engageable with the plunger in the first part of its stroke and actuated by the movement of the ram piston to move the plunger toward its closed position, said plunger having an enlarged head forming an abutment reacting against the iluid pressure in the cylinder in the lastpart of the plunger stroke to move the plunger ahead of the member independently thereof to close the valve.

5. A hydraulic ram comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, a piston-'rod carn ried by the piston and projecting from the end or the cylinder, ports formed in the cylinder at oppositesides of the piston for the admission of fluid to and the discharge of fluid from the cylinder' toinove the piston, a valve associated with one saidport for interrupting the iiow of i'luid therethrough including a plunger, means for closing the valve in response to movement of the piston in the cylinder comprising a rockable member carried by the cylinder engageable with one end of said plunger, said plunger being movable through a part of its closing stroke by movement o the rockable member, a flexible connection between the piston rod and said member to rock the latter after the zpiston has moved a predetermined distance and move the plunger toward its closed position, said plunger having an enlarged portion reactable against the fluid pressure in the .cylinder during the last' part of the stroke of said plunger to move the plunger ahead of the rockable member and independently thereoi to close the valve.

6. In ahydraulic power adjuster, a cylinder, a pistonrreciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected with thev piston and extending through an endet the cylinder, a fluid conducting passage communicating interiorly of the cylinder between the opposite end thereof and the piston, ya check valve disposed in said passage, said check valve being openable by the pressure of fluid entering the passage en route to the cylinder and being adapted to remain open until adjusted into a closing'initiating position wherein the valve is receivable of force from fluid expelled from the cylinder through said passage to effect closing ci such valve, said valve having a stern projecting exteriorly of the cylinder, and a valve-closing initiating element mounted on and adjustable lengthwise of said piston rod for applying force tothe valve stem to adjust the valve into thev closing initiating position attendant to moveiment'oiV thepiston in the direction for expelling Ythe duid from the cylinder through said passage. y

` In a hydraulic ram and control therefor, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally in the cylinder, a piston rod projecting from the piston through one end of the cylinder, a fluid conducting passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder between the opposite end thereof and the piston, said passage including a section in the piston rod end of the cylinder and directed axially thereof, a valve in said passage and comprising a valve seat circumscribing said passage section, said valve seat facing axially outwardly with respect to said one end of the cylinder and also facing in a downstream direction with respect to iluid flowing toward said interior of the cylinder, a valve-operating element arranged coaxially with said seat and projectable endwise outwardly through said piston rod end of the cylinder, said valve-operating element being movable endwise toward the seat to place the valve in a throttling condition creating a pressure differential across the valve seat in fluid exhausting from said cylinder interior through said channel section, the valve being operable to close responsively to such pressure differential, and a valve-closing element mounted on the piston rod for movement therewith into abutting relation with the valveoperating element to move the same for establishing the throttling condition of the valve to initiate closing thereof.

8. In a hydraulic ram and control therefor, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally in the cylinder, a piston rod projecting from the piston through one end of the cylinder, a fluid conducting passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder between the opposite end thereof and the piston, said passage including a section in the piston rod end of the cylinder and directed axially thereof, a valve in said passage and comprising a valve seat circumscribing said passage section and a headed valve stem of which the head is alternatively movable onto and from said seat, said valve seat facing axially outwardly with respect to said one end of the cylindel` and also facing in the downstream direction with respect to fluid flowing through the passage to the interior of the cylinder, said valve stem being arranged coaxially with said seat and projectable endwise outwardly through the piston rod end of the cylinder, said valve stem being movable endwise toward the seat to place the valve in a, throttling condition creating a pressure differential across the valve seat in fluid exhausting from the cylinder interior through said passage, the headed stem being operable responsively to such pressure differential to incur further movement of the stem pursuant to closing the valve, and a valveclosing element mounted on the piston rod for movement therewith into abutting relation with the valve stem to move the same for establishing said pressure differential to initiate closing of the valve pursuant to said further movement of the valve stem, and said further movement of the valve stem causing it to depart from the valveclosing element and thereby leaving a space between said stem and said element when the piston is brought to rest by the closing of the valve.

9. In a hydraulic ram and control therefor, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally in the cylinder, a piston rod projecting from the piston through a piston-rod end of the cylinder, a pair of hoseconnecting structures upon the other end of the cylinder, channel means extending lengthwise of the cylinder and communicating between one of said hose-connecting structures and the space between the piston-rod end of the cylinder and the piston, a second channel means including a component communicating with the other of said hose connecting structures and extending therefrom lengthwise of the cylinder into the pistonrod end of the cylinder, said second channel means comprising a second component extending from the piston-rod end of the cylinder back to the other end thereof where this second componentl communicates with the interior of the cylinder between such other end and the piston, a valve disposed in said second channel means within a section thereof disposed in the pistonrod end of the cylinder, said valve including a valve seat circumscribing said channel section and facing in a down-stream direction with re-l spect to fluid flowing through the channel means toward the interior of the cylinder, and said. channel section and valve seat being oriented so the valve seat faces axially outwardly of the piston-rod end of the cylinder, a valve-operating element arranged coaxially with said seat and projectable endwise outwardly through said piston-rod end of the cylinder, said valve-operating element being movable endwise toward the seat to place the valve in a throttling condition creating a pressure differential across the valve seat in fluid exhausting from said cylinder interior through said channel section, the valve being operable for closing responsively to such pressure differential, 'and a valve-closing element mounted on the piston rod for movement therewith into abutting relation with the valve-operating element to move the same for establishing the throttling condition of the valve to initiate closing thereof.

l0. In a hydraulic power adjuster, a cylinder, a piston reciprocatable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected with the piston and extending through an end of the cylinder, a fluid conducting passage communicating interiorly of the cylinder between the opposite end thereof and the piston, said passage having a section disposed in said piston rod end of the cylinder land directed axially thereof, a valve comprising a seat circumscribing said passage section and facing endwise outwardly of said cylinder end, said valve also comprising a headed valve stem arranged coaxially with said seat, a valve-stem-receiving bearing in said end of the cylinder, said valve stem being mounted in said bearing and for nonbiased endwise movement therein between a valve-closed position wherein the valve stem head is upon the valve seat and a valve-open position wherein the head is axially displaced from said seat, said valve stem having an intermediate throtting position wherein its head is operable to create a pressure differential thereacross in fluid exhausting from the `cylinder through said passage, the headed stem being operable responsively to such pressure differential to incur endwise movement into the valve-closed position, the headed stem being oppositely endwise movable to the valve-open position responsively to a reversal of fluid flow through said passage and to remain in such valve-open position during the exhaust of uid through the passage section unless moved toward the seat into said intermediate throttling position, and a valve-closing element mounted on and adjustable lengthwise of said piston rod for imparting force to the valve stem to move it into said intermediate throttling position attendant to movement of the piston in the direction for exhausting fluid from the cylinder through said passage.

JOSEPH F. ZISKAL.

No references cited. 

